I started to pull together the information below
from public, non-copyright sources with a view to undertaking further
researches. Unfortunately, time and other commitments have prevented this to
date but I
nevertheless set out here the information I have been able to glean so far. If
you have further details which you think should be included here (or, indeed,
any corrections or observations), do please make contact with me.

The little village
of Millbrook has a wider fame than one would ordinarily imagine it to command.

First, it is close to a
number of features which are reputed to have inspired locations in John
Bunyan’s classic allegory “
The
Pilgrim’s Progress” and now lies on “
The
John Bunyan Trail”, a 77 mile circular route encompassing
many places of historic interest connected with Bunyan and his book.

Secondly, “Millbrook Proving Ground”, just outside the village, has been
famous for many years as one of the largest vehicle testing centres in Europe, its circular, banked outer circuit being somewhat reminiscent of the old
Brooklands race track.

Millbrook Church

Thirdly, thanks to the
opening in 2014 of a substantial “holiday village” just to the other side of
the main A507 south of Millbrook, other people are discovering this area and
perhaps making their way (up the narrow, lonely rutted tracks or by way of the
steep steps) to the church, parts of which date from the thirteenth century,
standing 360 feet above see level and providing outstanding views across the
vale of Bedford and beyond.

It is here that there once
stood a small Benedictine cell of St Albans Abbey. This had been founded during
the tenure of Richard, fifteenth Abbot of the Abbey (1097-1119) by one Neel de
Wast, who held the Manor of Millbrook from the D’Albini family.

Little is known about this
outpost of the Abbey, of which there were many at that time. Its possessions
seem to have comprised a wood, various crofts and meadows. One fact which is,
however, indisputable is that around 1143 it was amalgamated with the newly
built Beadlow
Priory and the few monks at Millbrook were moved permanently to Beadlow,
after which time the cell was dissolved.

However, it appears that
Beadlow Priory may have continued to hold rights of what were known as “free
warren”, a privilege to permit the killing of game, usually within a wooded
area. Sometime around 1320 it looks like the Prior of Beadlow was summoned to
show by what authority he was exercising this right. His reply states that he
had received a grant of this from Edward I in 1294.

A further writ was issued
shortly afterwards regarding the Prior’s title to undertake two matters. The
first was a right hold a “court leet”, that is ensuring that oaths of
peacekeeping and good standards in trade, such as the sale of food and drink,
were adhered to.
The
second was a right to “claim waif”, that is the forfeited goods of felons
and outlaws in Millbrook. This writ was answered in person by the Prior.